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Beijing, China, August 15, 2008 – Russia sailed to an easy straight sets win (25-14, 25-19, 25-10) over unfancied Algeria in just one hour in Pool B at the Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium.

Russia, the clear pre-match favourite, proved too strong for the much shorter North Africans, and also sent a message to the other Olympic participating teams that though they have lost two matches to Brazil and Italy, they are still a strong contender for the medals.

Russian Head Coach Giovanni Caprara said, “We are improving in every field, which has laid a good foundation for future competitions.”

With the win, Russia improved their record to 2-2, almost ensuring their entry into the quarter-finals while Algeria dropped their record to 0-4, and are now eliminated.

Russia’s supremacy was very clear from the first set. Headed by Evgenia Estes, who scored 12 points, and Liubov "Sokolova" Shashkova who added 11 points, the Russians easily won the first set 25-14 in just 20 minutes.

Algeria was determined not to give Russia the pleasure of one more easy win in the second set, which went point-by-point in the early stages. Algeria’s Lydia Oulmou and Faiza Tsabet attacked strong from the left and caught the Russians off-guard. Algeria even led in the first technical timeout at 8-7 and then 10-9, forcing Caprara to substitute the setter Maria Akulova with Maria Sheshenina. Things changed soon after. Fast attacks set up by Sheshenina and powerful services by Sokolova gave them a 6-0 run, rallying to lead Algeria at 15-11. The Russians were again the winner at 25-19.

The third set was exactly a copy of the first set. The Russians jumped to a commanding lead soon at 10-3, 16-5 and 21-7. Saleha Benhamouda’s wild shot closed the set, Russia winning 25-10 in 19 minutes.